Cardinals deal Wisdom for left-handed power off the bench

Highlights from Paul Goldschmidt’s introductory news conference with the St. Louis Cardinals

New St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt lauded praise on his new organization after being traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks during a news conference Dec. 7, 2018, at Busch Stadium.
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New St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt lauded praise on his new organization after being traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks during a news conference Dec. 7, 2018, at Busch Stadium.
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The St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday checked another box on their off-season wish list by acquiring a left-handed hitter for the bench.

Third baseman Patrick Wisdom, who made his major league debut at age 27 in 2018, was dealt to the Texas Rangers in exchange for utility player Drew Robinson.

Robinson, 26, appeared at six different positions over 95 games for the Rangers in 2017 and 18. In 216 big league at bats, he’s hitting .204, but has nine home runs and 22 runs batted in. A fourth-round pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, Robinson has twice hit more than 20 home runs in full seasons at class triple-A.

Wisdom was a first round pick out of St. Mary’s College in 2012 but didn’t make his major league debut until August of last season. In the interim, he spent seven seasons in the Cardinals minor league system. He was an integral part of the Memphis Redbirds’ Pacific Coast League championship in 2017 when he batted .243 with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs in 127 games as the team’s starting third baseman.

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In 50 at-bats in St. Louis, Wisdom hit .260 with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

The Cardinals, who last week made the biggest move of the off-season so far by acquiring All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, had a left-handed power bat high on their list of needs for 2019.

In the meantime, the team is rumored to be pushing the Giants for left-handed reliever Will Smith, according to The Athletic’s Mark Saxon, and Tony Watson, according to the Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold.

First baseman/outfielder Jose Martinez is a possible chip, Goold reported. Martinez, whose defense has made it difficult for St. Louis to find a place for him in the lineup, is expendable now that the Cardinals can rely on Paul Goldschmidt to play first base.

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